Female circumcision is an operation done in many of the Arab
countries and is an example of how woman change their bodies in order to
conform to society. There are many aspects to this practice such as
medical, religious and psychological. Very few people in these countries
will ever say anything on the matter, even if they object. Speaking of
issues regarding women and sex in these countries is a taboo. One woman,
Nawal El Saadawi, a medical doctor who later became Egypt's Director of
Public Health was brave enough to come forward. The fact that she did
ultimately lead to dismissal from her position and actual imprisonment.
Her writings are forbidden from many of the Arab countries ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?Join Essayworld today to view this essayand over 50,000 other term papers

would hold the girl by her
thighs to expose her genitals and to prevent struggling. Then the daya
would proceed to cut of the clitoris of the girl with a sharp razor. One
of the women El Saadawi interviewed explained "the daya sat between these
two women, holding a sharp razor in her hand which she used to cut off the
clitoris." (Nawal El Saadawi 170)
Although El Saadawi claims there are no advantages to this
operation, many people tend to disagree. One claim made by people in
favor of female circumcision is that by minimizing sexual desire, a girl
is more likely to stay a virgin. Studies show that by removing the
clitoris, sexual desire is drastically decreased. "A married woman
admitted that during intercourse with her husband she had never experienced
the slightest sexual enjoyment…" El Saadawi recounts about a women who
was circumcised at six years old. (172) In most customs, circumcision is
a religious procedure. Many Religions practice both male and ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays. Write better papers. Get better grades.